Denmark Pushes Back as Trump Insists ‘Something Will Work Out’ on Greenland

Based on official statements, diplomatic briefings, and my experience covering transatlantic relations, tensions between the United States and Denmark have resurfaced after US President Donald Trump once again reiterated his desire for Washington to acquire Greenland. While Copenhagen has firmly rejected any discussion of sovereignty transfer, Trump struck an optimistic tone, insisting that “something will work out” regarding the strategically vital Arctic territory.

As Denmark underscored a fundamental disagreement with Washington over Greenland’s future, President Trump renewed his push to bring the Arctic island under US control, citing national and regional security concerns.

On Wednesday (local time), President Trump reaffirmed his long-standing position that the United States should acquire Greenland, despite clear resistance from Denmark and Greenlandic leaders. His remarks highlighted growing divisions between the two NATO allies over the future of the vast, resource-rich Arctic territory governed by Denmark.

Trump’s comments came in the wake of high-level talks at the White House involving US, Danish, and Greenlandic officials. The discussions failed to produce any breakthrough on Greenland’s status, underscoring the sharp differences in approach. While Denmark and Greenland have categorically ruled out any transfer of sovereignty, Washington continues to argue that Greenland is critical to US national security interests.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump emphasized Greenland’s strategic importance, stating, “Greenland is very important for the national security, including of Denmark.” He went on to question Copenhagen’s ability to defend the island, adding, “The problem is there’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or china wants to occupy Greenland, but there’s everything we can do.”

Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance met with Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Following the talks, Danish and Greenlandic officials announced the formation of a joint working group that will address a broad range of Greenland-related issues, with further meetings planned in the coming weeks.

Despite the establishment of the working group, Rasmussen later acknowledged that significant differences remain. Describing the discussions as “frank but constructive,” he stressed that there is a “fundamental disagreement” with the United States over Greenland’s future. Trump’s proposal to purchase the island, Rasmussen said, was “totally unacceptable,” according to remarks reported by the BBC.

“We made it very, very clear that this is not in Denmark’s interest,” Rasmussen stated, adding that Washington had been unable to cross certain Danish “red lines.” However, he noted that Denmark and Greenland remain open to dialogue on strengthening security cooperation, including the possibility of expanded US military infrastructure on the island.

Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland has unsettled NATO allies and heightened unease among European partners. The US president has repeatedly argued that American control over Greenland is necessary to counter growing Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic, a region that is becoming increasingly important due to climate change and new shipping routes.

Greenland’s geographic position—between North America and the Arctic—makes it strategically vital for monitoring maritime traffic and operating missile early-warning systems. The island’s location has long been central to US defense planning in the North Atlantic.

The United States already maintains a military presence in Greenland, with more than 100 US personnel permanently stationed at the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland. Under existing agreements with Denmark, Washington has broad authority to deploy troops and conduct military operations in the region.

Greenland’s leadership, however, has firmly rejected Trump’s assertions. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, along with leaders from four major political parties, has reiterated that Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Danish realm and has no interest in becoming part of either the United States or Denmark.

Trump has also drawn criticism for mocking Denmark’s efforts to strengthen Greenland’s defenses, dismissing them as “two dog sleds” and warning that China or Russia could invade if the US failed to act. Danish officials dismissed the remarks as exaggerated. Rasmussen rejected Trump’s claims about Russian and Chinese vessels operating near Greenland as “not true,” though he acknowledged that there is “an element of truth” in the need to enhance Arctic security.

Meanwhile, Trump’s stance does not appear to enjoy broad domestic support in the United States. A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey found that only 17 percent of Americans back Trump’s efforts to annex Greenland, with majorities across both Republican and Democratic voters opposing the use of military force to achieve such an objective.

The two-day poll, which concluded on Tuesday, showed that nearly 47 percent of respondents opposed US attempts to acquire Greenland, while 35 percent said they were unsure. The findings highlight a divided American public even as the issue continues to strain relations between Washington and its European allies.